Agrichemical composition and method of promoting growth of plant

ABSTRACT

An agrichemical composition comprising a compound represented by the formula (1) and at least one insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A):
         Group (A): imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, thiacloprid, nitenpyram, sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, imidaclothiz, cycloxaprid, abamectin, emamectin, emamectin benzoate, milbemectin, doramectin, lepimectin, flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, fipronil, ethiprole, acetoprole, vaniliprole, pyriprole, pyrafluprole, thiodicarb, aldicarb, oxamyl, methiocarb, carbofuran, carbosulfan, fenitrothion, malathion, dimethoate and the like.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an agrichemical composition and amethod of promoting the growth of plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some chemical substances are known to show an effect of promoting thegrowth of a plant when applied to the plant. For example, aminolevulinicacid shows a growth promoting effect on a plant by application thereof.

(Nonpatent document 1) “Biosynthesis, biotechnological production andapplications of 5-aminolevulinic acid” K. Sasaki et al., (2002) AppliedMicrobial Biotechnology 58: pp. 23-29

(Nonpatent document 2) The Pesticide Manual, Fifteenth Edition (2009),British Crop Production Council (ISBN: 978-1-901396-18-8)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has an object of providing an excellentagrichemical composition promoting the growth of plants, and the like.

The present inventors have investigated and found that the growth of theplant is promoted by applying an agrichemical composition containing acompound represented by the following formula (1) and at least oneinsecticidally active compound as an active ingredient to a plant.

That is, the present invention is as described in the following [1] to[15].

[1] An agrichemical composition comprising a compound represented by theformula (1):

[wherein, at least one of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c) and R^(d) represents atrifluoromethyl group and others represent a hydrogen atom, and R^(e)represents a methyl group or an ethyl group.]and at least one insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A)(hereinafter, referred to as inventive composition):

Group (A): imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid,thiacloprid, nitenpyram, sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, imidaclothiz,(5RS,7RS;5RS,7SR)-1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-7-methyl-8-nitro-5-propoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine,cycloxaprid, abamectin, emamectin, emamectin benzoate, milbemectin,doramectin, lepimectin, flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole,cyantraniliprole, fipronil, ethiprole, acetoprole, vaniliprole,pyriprole, pyrafluprole, thiodicarb, aldicarb, oxamyl, methiocarb,carbofuran, carbosulfan, fenitrothion, malathion, dimethoate, PAP, CYAP,pyraclofos, acephate, methidathion, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, disulfoton,cadusafos, ethoprophos, fenamiphos, fosthiazate, isofenphos, imicyafos,acrinathrin, bifenthrin, cycloprothrin, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin,cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin,alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, deltamethrin,ethofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, esfenvalerate, flucythrinate,fluvalinate, tau-fluvalinate, halfenprox, permethrin, silafluofen,tefluthrin, tralomethrin, protrifenbute, pymetrozine, pyridalyl,pyriproxyfen, spirotetramat, flupyradifurone, compounds represented bythe formula (2):

[wherein, R¹¹ represents a methyl group or a bromine atom, R¹²represents a bromine atom, a chlorine atom or a cyano group, R¹³represents a methyl group, a 1-cyclopropylethyl group or amethoxycarbonylamino group and R¹⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or anethyl group. However, if R¹¹ is a methyl group, R¹² is a chlorine atomor a cyano group and R¹³ is a methyl group, then, R¹⁴ denotes only anethyl group.]and compounds represented by the formula (3):

[wherein, R²¹ represents a methyl group or a chlorine atom, R²²represents a bromine atom, a chlorine atom or a cyano group, R²³represents a methyl group, a 1-cyclopropylethyl group or amethoxycarbonylamino group and R²⁴ represents a hydrogen atom, achlorine atom or a cyano group, and Q represents any one of Q-1 to Q-6described below.]

[2] The agrichemical composition according to [1], wherein the at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A) is at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (B):

Group (B): imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid,thiacloprid, nitenpyram, sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone and imidaclothiz.

[3] The agrichemical composition according to [1], wherein the at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A) is at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (C):

Group (C): abamectin, emamectin, emamectin benzoate, milbemectin,doramectin and lepimectin.

[4] The agrichemical composition according to [1], wherein the at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A) is at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (D):

Group (D): flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole,compounds represented by the formula (2):

[wherein, R¹¹ represents a methyl group or a bromine atom, R¹²represents a bromine atom, a chlorine atom or a cyano group, R¹³represents a methyl group, a 1-cyclopropylethyl group or amethoxycarbonylamino group and R¹⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or anethyl group. However, if R¹¹ is a methyl group, R¹² is a chlorine atomor a cyano group and R¹³ is a methyl group, then, R¹⁴ denotes only anethyl group.]and compounds represented by the (3):

[wherein, R²¹ represents a methyl group or a chlorine atom, R²²represents a bromine atom, a chlorine atom or a cyano group, R²³represents a methyl group, a 1-cyclopropylethyl group or amethoxycarbonylamino group and R²⁴ represents a hydrogen atom, achlorine atom or a cyano group, and Q represents any one of Q-1 to Q-6described below.]

[5] The agrichemical composition according to [1], wherein the at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A) is at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (E):

Group (E): fipronil, ethiprole, acetoprole, vaniliprole, pyriprole andpyrafluprole.

[6] The agrichemical composition according to [1], wherein the at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A) is at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (F):

Group (F): thiodicarb, aldicarb, oxamyl, methiocarb, carbofuran andcarbosulfan.

[7] The agrichemical composition according to [1], wherein the at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A) is at leastone insecticidally active compound selected from Group (G):

Group (G): imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, abamectin,chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, fipronil and thiodicarb.

[8] The agrichemical composition according to [1], wherein the compoundrepresented by the formula (1) is methyl5-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate.

[9] The agrichemical composition according to any one of [1] to [8],wherein the content ratio of the compound represented by the formula (1)to at least one insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A)is 100:1 to 1:100 by weight.

[10] A method of promoting the growth of a plant, having a step ofapplying an effective amount of the agrichemical composition accordingto any one of [1] to [9] to a soil where the plant grows or the plantitself.

[11] A method of promoting the growth of a plant, having a step ofadhering an effective amount of the agrichemical composition accordingto any one of [1] to [9] to a seed of the plant or impregnating a seedof the plant with an effective amount of the agrichemical compositionaccording to any one of [1] to [9] and a step of sowing the plant seed.

[12] A seed treating agent comprising the agrichemical compositionaccording to any one of [1] to [9].

[13] A plant seed impregnated with an effective amount of theagrichemical composition according to any one of [1] to [9] orcomprising an effective amount of the agrichemical composition accordingto any one of [1] to [9] adhered.

[14] The plant seed according to [13], wherein the kind of the plantseed is a seed of corn, cotton, soybean, sugar beet, rapeseed, wheat orrice.

[15] Use of the agrichemical composition according to any one of [1] to[9], for promoting the growth of a plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventive composition comprises a compound represented by theformula (1):

[wherein, at least one of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c) and R^(d) represents atrifluoromethyl group and others represent a hydrogen atom, and R^(e)represents a methyl group or an ethyl group.](hereinafter, referred to as present condensed ring compound) and atleast one insecticidally active compound selected from Group (A)(hereinafter, referred to as present insecticidally active compound).

Group (A): imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid,thiacloprid, nitenpyram, sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, imidaclothiz,(5RS,7RS;5RS,7SR)-1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-7-methyl-8-nitro-5-propoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine,cycloxaprid, abamectin, emamectin, emamectin benzoate, milbemectin,doramectin, lepimectin, flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole,cyantraniliprole, fipronil, ethiprole, acetoprole, vaniliprole,pyriprole, pyrafluprole, thiodicarb, aldicarb, oxamyl, methiocarb,carbofuran, carbosulfan, fenitrothion, malathion, dimethoate, PAP, CYAP,pyraclofos, acephate, methidathion, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, disulfoton,cadusafos, ethoprophos, fenamiphos, fosthiazate, isofenphos, imicyafos,acrinathrin, bifenthrin, cycloprothrin, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin,cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin,alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, deltamethrin,ethofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, esfenvalerate, flucythrinate,fluvalinate, tau-fluvalinate, halfenprox, permethrin, silafluofen,tefluthrin, tralomethrin, protrifenbute, pymetrozine, pyridalyl,pyriproxyfen, spirotetramat, flupyradifurone, compounds represented bythe formula (2):

[wherein, R¹¹ represents a methyl group or a bromine atom, R¹²represents a bromine atom, a chlorine atom or a cyano group, R¹³represents a methyl group, a 1-cyclopropylethyl group or amethoxycarbonylamino group and R¹⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or anethyl group. However, if R¹¹ is a methyl group, R¹² is a chlorine atomor a cyano group and R¹³ is a methyl group, then, R¹⁴ denotes only anethyl group.]and compounds represented by the formula (3):

[wherein, R²¹ represents a methyl group or a chlorine atom, R²²represents a bromine atom, a chlorine atom or a cyano group, R²³represents a methyl group, a 1-cyclopropylethyl group or amethoxycarbonylamino group and R²⁴ represents a hydrogen atom, achlorine atom or a cyano group, and Q represents any one of Q-1 to Q-6described below.]

Specific examples of the present condensed ring compound will be shown.

Specific examples of the present condensed ring compound includecompounds represented by the formula (1) in which groups R^(a), R^(b),R^(c), R^(d) and R^(e) are combined as shown in Table 1 (presentcondensed ring compound 1 to present condensed ring compound 8).

[wherein, the combination of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), R^(d) and R^(e)denotes any one of combinations shown in [Table 1].

TABLE 1 Present compound R^(a) R^(b) R^(c) R^(d) R^(e) Present condensedring H CF₃ H H CH₃ compound 1 Present condensed ring H H CF₃ H CH₃compound 2 Present condensed ring CF₃ H H H CH₃ compound 3 Presentcondensed ring H H H CF₃ CH₃ compound 4 Present condensed ring H CF₃ H HC₂H₅ compound 5 Present condensed ring H H CF₃ H C₂H₅ compound 6 Presentcondensed ring CF₃ H H H C₂H₅ compound 7 Present condensed ring H H HCF₃ C₂H₅ compound 8

Next, the insecticidally active compound used as an active ingredient inthe inventive composition will be illustrated specifically.

Imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, thiacloprid andnitenpyram are all known compounds and described, for example, in “ThePesticide Manual-15th edition (published by BCPC); ISBN978-1-901396-18-8”, pp. 645, 229, 1112, 9, 1111 and 817. Flupyradifuroneand imidaclothiz are described, for example, in “SHIBUYA INDEX (Index ofPesticides) 16th Edition 2012 (published by SHIBUYA INDEX RESEARCHGROUP) ISBN 9784881371626”, pp. 61 and 60, respectively. These compoundsare obtained from commercially available preparations or can be producedby known methods.

Sulfoxaflor can be produced by a method described, for example, inInternational Publication No. 2007/095229.

Flupyradifurone is a known compound and can be produced by a methoddescribed, for example, in International Publication No. 2007/115644.

(5RS,7RS;5RS,7SR)-1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-7-methyl-8-nitro-5-propoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridineis a known compound (CAS registration number 948994-16-9) and can beproduced by a method described, for example, in InternationalPublication No. 2007/101369 (hereinafter, referred to as presentinsecticidally active compound 1.). Cycloxaprid is a known compound andcan be produced by a method described, for example, in InternationalPublication No. 2011/069456.

Abamectin, emamectin, emamectin benzoate, milbemectin, doramectin andlepimectin are known compounds and described, for example, in “THEPESTICIDE MANUAL—15th EDITION (published by BCPC) ISBN 1901396188”, pp.3, 419, 419 and 793, respectively. These compounds are obtained fromcommercially available preparations or can be produced by known methods.

Doramectin and lepimectin are described, for example, in “SHIBUYA INDEX(Index of Pesticides) 13th Edition 2008 (published by SHIBUYA INDEXRESEARCH GROUP) ISBN 9784881371435”, pp. 66 and 67, respectively. Thesecompounds are obtained from commercially available preparations or canbe produced by known methods.

Flubendiamide is a known compound and described, for example, in “THEPESTICIDE MANUAL—15th EDITION (published by BCPC) ISBN 1901396188”, p.514. This compound is obtained from commercially available preparationsor can be produced by known methods.

Chlorantraniliprole is a known compound and described, for example, in“THE PESTICIDE MANUAL—15th EDITION (published by BCPC) ISBN 1901396188”,p. 175. This compound is obtained from commercially availablepreparations or can be produced by known methods.

Cyantraniliprole is a known compound and can be produced by a methoddescribed, for example, in WO04/067528.

The compound represented by the formula (2) is a known compound.

[wherein, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ represent the same meaning as describedabove.]

The compound represented by the formula (2) in which R¹¹ is a bromineatom, R¹² is a chlorine atom, R¹³ is a 1-cyclopropylethyl group and R¹⁴is a hydrogen atom (hereinafter, referred to as present insecticidallyactive compound 2.) can be produced by a method described, for example,in International Publication No. 08/280327.

The compound represented by the formula (3) is a known compound.

[wherein, R²¹, R²², R²³, R²⁴ and Q represent the same meaning asdescribed above.]

The compound represented by the formula (3) in which R²¹ is a methylgroup, R²² is a cyano group, R²³ is a methyl group, R²⁴ is a chlorineatom and Q is Q-2 or Q-6 described below

(hereinafter, referred to as the present insecticidally active compound3 or the present insecticidally active compound 4.) is a known compoundand can be produced by a method described, for example, in WO2010/069502, and the like.

Ethiprole, fipronil, acetoprole, vaniliprole, pyriprole and pyrafluproleare all known compounds, and ethiprole and fipronil are described, forexample, in “THE PESTICIDE MANUAL—15th EDITION (published by BCPC) ISBN1901396188”, pp. 443 and 500, respectively. These compounds are obtainedfrom commercially available preparations or can be produced by knownmethods.

Acetoprole, vaniliprole, pyriprole and pyrafluprole are described, forexample, in “SHIBUYA INDEX (Index of Pesticides) 13th Edition 2008(published by SHIBUYA INDEX RESEARCH GROUP) ISBN 9784881371435”, p. 59.These compounds are obtained from commercially available preparations orcan be produced by known methods.

Thiodicarb, aldicarb, oxamyl, methiocarb, carbofuran and carbosulfan areall known compounds and described, for example, in “THE PESTICIDEMANUAL—15th EDITION (published by BCPC) ISBN 1901396188”, pp. 1124, 24,848, 755, 161 and 163. These compounds are obtained from commerciallyavailable preparations or can be produced by known methods.

Fenitrothion, malathion, dimethoate, PAP, CYAP, pyraclofos, acephate,methidathion, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, disulfoton, cadusafos,ethoprophos, fenamiphos, fosthiazate, isofenphos and imicyafos are allknown compounds and described, for example, in “THE PESTICIDEMANUAL—15th EDITION (published by BCPC) ISBN 1901396188”, pp. 475, 697,375, 887, 250, 970, 6, 754, 321, 203, 401, 150, 446, 463, 576, 1241 and644.

These compounds are obtained from commercially available preparations orcan be produced by known methods.

Acrinathrin, bifenthrin, cycloprothrin, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin,cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin,alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, deltamethrin,ethofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, esfenvalerate, flucythrinate,fluvalinate, tau-fluvalinate, halfenprox, permethrin, silafluofen,tefluthrin, tralomethrin and protrifenbute are all known compounds anddescribed, for example, in “THE PESTICIDE MANUAL—15th EDITION (publishedby BCPC) ISBN 1901396188”, pp. 17, 104, 256, 263, 265, 269, 272, 270,277, 279, 281, 283, 284, 313, 454, 484, 494, 433, 519, 1236, 562, 598,879, 1029, 1083 and 1142. These compounds are obtained from commerciallyavailable preparations or can be produced by known methods.

Protrifenbute is described, for example, in “SHIBUYA INDEX (Index ofPesticides) 13th Edition 2008 (published by SHIBUYA INDEX RESEARCHGROUP) ISBN 9784881371435”, p. 28. Protrifenbute is obtained fromcommercially available preparations or can be produced by known methods.

Pymetrozine, pyridalyl, pyriproxyfen, spirotetramat and flupyradifuroneare all known compounds, and pymetrozine, pyridalyl, pyriproxyfen andspirotetramat are described, for example, in “THE PESTICIDE MANUAL—15thEDITION (published by BCPC) ISBN 1901396188”, pp. 968, 988, 997 and1047, respectively. These compounds are obtained from commerciallyavailable preparations or can be produced by known methods.

The content proportion of the present condensed ring compound and thepresent insecticidally active compound in the inventive composition isnot particularly restricted, however, the proportion of the presentinsecticidally active compound is usually 2 to 10000000 parts by weight,preferably 10 to 100000 parts by weight with respect to 1000 parts byweight of the present condensed ring compound.

The inventive composition includes, for example, the followingembodiments.

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and imidacloprid;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and clothianidin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and thiamethoxam;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and acetamiprid;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and thiacloprid;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and nitenpyram;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and sulfoxaflor;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and flupyradifurone;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and imidaclothiz;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and the present insecticidally active compound 1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cycloxaprid;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and abamectin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and emamectin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and emamectin benzoate;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and milbemectin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and doramectin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and lepimectin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and flubendiamide;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and chlorantraniliprole;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cyantraniliprole;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and the present insecticidally active compound 2;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and the present insecticidally active compound 3;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and the present insecticidally active compound 4;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fipronil;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and ethiprole;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and acetoprole;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and vaniliprole;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyriprole;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyrafluprole;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and thiodicarb;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and aldicarb;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and oxamyl;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and methiocarb;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and carbofuran;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and carbosulfan;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fenitrothion;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and malathion;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and dimethoate;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and PAP;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and CYAP;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyraclofos;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and acephate;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and methidathion;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and diazinon;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and chlorpyrifos;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and disulfoton;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cadusafos;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and ethoprophos;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fenamiphos;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fosthiazate;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and isofenphos;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and imicyafos;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and acrinathrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and bifenthrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cycloprothrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cyfluthrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and beta-cyfluthrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cyhalothrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and lambda-cyhalothrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and gamma-cyhalothrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cypermethrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and alpha-cypermethrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and beta-cypermethrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and zeta-cypermethrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and deltamethrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and ethofenprox;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fenpropathrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fenvalerate.

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and esfenvalerate;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and flucythrinate;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fluvalinate;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and tau-fluvalinate;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and halfenprox;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and permethrin.

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and silafluofen;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and tefluthrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and tralomethrin;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and protrifenbute;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pymetrozine;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyridalyl;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyriproxyfen;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and spirotetramat;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and sulfoxaflor;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and flupyradifurone;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and imidacloprid at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and clothianidin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and thiamethoxam at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and acetamiprid at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and thiacloprid at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and nitenpyram at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and sulfoxaflor at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and flupyradifurone at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and imidaclothiz at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and the present insecticidally active compound 1 at a weightratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cycloxaprid at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and abamectin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and emamectin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and emamectin benzoate at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and milbemectin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and doramectin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and lepimectin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and flubendiamide at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and chlorantraniliprole at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cyantraniliprole at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and the present insecticidally active compound (2) at a weightratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and the present insecticidally active compound (3) at a weightratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and the present insecticidally active compound (4) at a weightratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fipronil at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and ethiprole at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and acetoprole at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and vaniliprole at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyriprole at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyrafluprole at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and thiodicarb at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and aldicarb at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and oxamyl at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and methiocarb at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and carbofuran at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and carbosulfan at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fenitrothion at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and malathion at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and dimethoate at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and PAP at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and CYAP at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyraclofos at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and acephate at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and methidathion at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and diazinon at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and chlorpyrifos at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and disulfoton at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cadusafos at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and ethoprophos at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fenamiphos at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fosthiazate at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and isofenphos at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and imicyafos at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and acrinathrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and bifenthrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cycloprothrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cyfluthrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and beta-cyfluthrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cyhalothrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and lambda-cyhalothrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and gamma-cyhalothrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and cypermethrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and alpha-cypermethrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and beta-cypermethrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and zeta-cypermethrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and deltamethrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and ethofenprox at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fenpropathrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fenvalerate at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1.

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and esfenvalerate at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and flucythrinate at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and fluvalinate at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and tau-fluvalinate at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and halfenprox at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and permethrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and silafluofen at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and tefluthrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and tralomethrin at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and protrifenbute at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pymetrozine at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyridalyl at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and pyriproxyfen at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and spirotetramat at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and sulfoxaflor at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1;

A composition containing any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and flupyradifurone at a weight ratio of 0.01/1 to 100/1.

The inventive composition may be a mixture itself consisting of thepresent condensed ring compound and the present insecticidally activecompound, however, in usual cases, the present condensed ring compound,the present insecticidally active compound and an inert carrier aremixed, and if necessary, a surfactant and other auxiliary agents forformulation are added, and the mixture is formulated into an oilsolution, an emulsifiable concentrate, a flowable formulation, awettable powder, a granular wettable powder, a dust formulation, agranule formulation or the like.

The above-described formulated inventive composition can be used as itis as an agrichemical composition, or other inert components can beadded to the composition before use as an agrichemical composition.

The total amount of the present condensed ring compound and the presentinsecticidally active compound in the inventive composition is usuallyin the range of 0.1 to 99% by weight, preferably 0.2 to 90% by weight,more preferably 1 to 80% by weight.

Examples of the solid carrier used in formulation include fine powdersor granules made of minerals such as kaolin clay, attapulgite clay,bentonite, montmorillonite, acidic white clay, pyrophylite, talc,diatomaceous earth, calicite and the like, natural organic substancessuch as corncob flour, walnut shell flour and the like, syntheticorganic substances such as urea and the like, salts such as calciumcarbonate, ammonium sulfate and the like, synthetic inorganic substancessuch as synthetic hydrated silicon oxide, and the like, and examples ofthe liquid carrier used in formulation include aromatic hydrocarbonssuch as xylene, alkylbenzene, methyl naphthalene and the like, alcoholssuch as 2-propanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycolmonoethyl ether and the like, ketones such as acetone, cyclohexanone,isophorone and the like, vegetable oils such as soybean oil, cotton seedoil and the like, petroleum-based aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters,dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, and water.

Examples of the surfactant include anionic surfactants such as alkylsulfate ester salts, alkylaryl sulfonates, dialkyl sulfosuccinates,polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether phosphate ester salts, ligninsulfonates,naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde polycondensates and the like,nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ethers,polyoxyethylene alkylpolyoxypropylene block copolymers, sorbitan fattyacid esters and the like, and cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethyl ammonium salts and the like.

Examples of the other auxiliary agents for formulation includewater-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidoneand the like, polysaccharides such as gum arabic, alginic acid and asalt thereof, CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), xanthane gum and the like,inorganic substances such as aluminum magnesium silicate, alumina-soland the like, preservatives, colorants, and stabilizers such as PAP(isopropyl acid phosphate), BHT and the like.

In the present invention, “promoting the growth of a plant”(hereinafter, referred to as “growth promotion” in some cases) refers toan increase in the seedling establishment rate, an increase in thenumber of healthy leaves, an increase in the plant length, an increasein the plant body weight, an increase in the leaf area, an greening inthe leaf color, an increase in the number or weight of seeds or fruits,an increase in the number of set flowers or fruits, an increase in thegrowth of roots, an increase in the chlorophyll fluorescence, and anincrease in the transpiration capacity.

Growth promotion can be quantified using the following parameters:

(1) Seedling Establishment Rate

Seeds of plants are sown, for example, in the soil, on a filter paper,on an agar culture medium, on sand or the like, and then allowed toundergo cultivation for a given period of time, and the proportion ofgerminated and grown seedlings is examined.

(2) Number or Ratio of Healthy Leaves

With respect to each of plants, the number of healthy leaves is countedand the total number of healthy leaves is examined. Alternatively, theratio of the number of healthy leaves to the number of all leaves ofplants is examined.

(3) Plant Length

With respect to each of plants, the length from the base of the stem ofthe aerial part to the branches and leaves at the tip is measured.

(4) Plant Body Weight

The aerial part of each of plants is cut and the weight is measured todetermine the fresh weight of plants. Alternatively, the cut sample isdried and the weight is measured to determine a dry weight of plants.

(5) Leaf Area

A photograph of plants is taken by a digital camera and the area of agreen portion in the photograph is determined by image analysissoftware, for example, Win ROOF (manufactured by MITANI CORPORATION), toobtain the leaf area of plants.

(6) Leaf Color

After sampling leaves of plants, the chlorophyll content is measuredusing a chlorophyll gauge (for example, SPAD-502, manufactured by KonicaMinolta Holdings, Inc.) to determine the leaf color. The plants arephotographed with a digital camera and the green area of plant leaves inthe photograph is measured by extracting color for quantification usingimage analysis software, such as Win ROOF (manufactured by MITANICORPORATION).

(7) Number or Weight of Seeds or Fruits

Plants are grown until they reach fructification or ripening of seeds orfruits, and then the number of fruits per plant is counted or the totalweight of fruits per plant is measured. After cultivating plants untilseeds undergo ripening, elements constituting the yield such as thenumber of panicles, ripening rate and thousand kernel weight areexamined.

(8) Flower Setting Rate, Fruit Setting Rate, Seed Setting Rate and SeedFilling Rate

After cultivating plants until they bear fruits, the number of flowersetting and the number of fruit setting are counted to calculate thefruit setting rate % (number of fruit setting/number of flowersetting×100). After seeds are ripe, the numbers of set seeds and filledseeds are counted to calculate the seed setting rate (%) (number of setseeds/number of set flowers×100) and the seed filling rate (%) (numberof filled seeds/number of set seeds×100).

(9) Growth of Roots

Plants are cultivated in the soil or in hydroponics, then, the length ofroots is measured or the roots are cut and the fresh weight thereof ismeasured.

(10) Chlorophyll Fluorescence Yield

Using a pulse-modulated chlorophyll fluorescence measurement apparatus(for example, IMAGING-PAM, manufactured by WALZ), the chlorophyllfluorescence value of plants (Fv/Fm) is measured to obtain thechlorophyll fluorescence yield.

(11) Transpiration Capacity

At each growth stage of plants, transpiration of water from the surfaceof leaves is measured using a porometer (for example, AP4, manufacturedby Delta-T Devices Ltd.).

In the inventive method, when the inventive composition is applied to aplant, the plant may be an entire plant or part thereof (stem and leaf,shoot, flower, fruit, panicle, seed, bulb, tuber, root and the like),further, may be at any of various stages of the plant growth (thegermination period, including preseeding time, seeding time, and theperiod before and after the seedling emergence after sowing; thevegetative growth period, including the nursery period, the time ofseedling transplantation, the time of planting or nursing cuttings andthe growth period after field planting; the reproductive growth period,including the periods before, during and after flowering, immediatelybefore heading or the heading period; and the harvest period, includinga period before the expected harvest date, a period before the expectedripening date and the time of initiation of fruit coloration). As usedherein, the term bulb refers to a scaly bulb, corm, rhizome, root tuberand rhizophore. The seedlings may include seedling, cuttings and thelike. When applied to a plant, the inventive composition is applied onceor several times.

When the inventive composition is applied to a soil where a plant growsin the inventive method, an effective amount of the inventivecomposition is applied to the plant cultivation area. When applied tothe plant cultivation area, the inventive composition is applied once orseveral times.

Specific examples of the application method in the inventive methodinclude application to foliage, floral organs or panicles of plants,such as foliage spraying, application to a soil (cultivation areas)before or after planting, application to seeds, such as seedsterilization, seed soaking, seed coating and the like, application toseedlings, application to bulbs such as seed potato, and the like.

Specific examples of the method of application to foliage, floral organsor panicles in the inventive method include methods of applying to thesurface of plants, such as foliage spraying, trunk spraying and thelike. Also, examples thereof include spray treatment of floral organs orentire plants in the flowering stage including before, during and afterflowering. Further, examples thereof include spray treatment of paniclesor entire plants in the heading stage, for crop plants and the like.

Examples of the method of application to a soil in the inventive methodinclude spraying onto the soil, soil incorporation, and perfusion of achemical liquid into the soil (irrigation of chemical liquid, soilinjection, and dripping of chemical liquid). Examples of the place to betreated include planting hole, furrow, around a planting hole, around afurrow, entire surface of cultivation lands, the parts between the soiland the plant, area between roots, area beneath the trunk, main furrow,growing soil, seedling raising box, seedling raising tray, seedbed andthe like. Examples of the treating period include before seeding, at thetime of seeding, immediately after seeding, raising period, beforesettled planting, at the time of settled planting, growing period aftersettled planting, and the like. In the above-described soil treatment,the present condensed ring compound and the present insecticidallyactive compound may be simultaneously applied a plant, or a solidfertilizer such as a paste fertilizer containing the inventive compoundmay be applied to the soil. Also, the inventive composition may be mixedin an irrigation liquid, and, examples thereof include injecting toirrigation facilities (irrigation tube, irrigation pipe, sprinkler,etc.), mixing into the flooding liquid between furrows, mixing into ahydroponic medium and the like. Alternatively, an irrigation liquid maybe mixed with the inventive composition in advance and, for example,used for treatment by an appropriate irrigating method including theirrigation method mentioned above and the other methods such assprinkling, flooding and the like.

The method of applying to seeds in the inventive method refers to aprocess for adhering the inventive composition to seeds, bulbs and thelike of plants of interest or impregnating seeds, bulbs and the like ofplants of interest with the inventive composition, and specific examplesthereof include a spraying treatment by which a suspension of theinventive composition is atomized to be sprayed onto the surface ofseeds or bulbs, a smear treatment by which the inventive composition inthe form of a wettable powder, an emulsifiable concentrate, a flowableformulation or the like is applied, directly or after being added with asmall amount of water, onto seeds or bulbs, a soaking treatment in whichseeds are soaked into a solution of the inventive composition for acertain period of time, a film coating treatment, and a pellet coatingtreatment.

Examples of the method of application to seedlings in the inventivemethod include spraying treatment of spraying to the entire seedlings adiluted liquid having a proper concentration of active ingredientsprepared by diluting the inventive composition with water, immersingtreatment of immersing seedlings in the diluted liquid, and coatingtreatment of adhering the inventive composition formulated into a dustformulation to the entire seedlings. Examples of the method ofapplication to the soil before or after sowing seedlings include amethod of spraying a diluted liquid having a proper concentration ofactive ingredients prepared by diluting the inventive composition withwater onto seedlings or the soil around seedlings after sowingseedlings, and a method of spraying the inventive composition formulatedinto a solid formulation such as a granule onto soil around seedlingsafter sowing seedlings.

The inventive composition may be mixed with a hydroponic medium inhydroponics, and may also be used as one of culture medium components intissue culture. When the hydroponic treatment method in the inventivemethod is used for hydroponics, the inventive composition can bedissolved or suspended in a conventionally used culture medium forhydroponics such as horticulture tests at a concentration of activeingredients within a range of 0.001 ppm to 1000 ppm. When the inventivecomposition is used at the time of tissue culture or cell culture, itcan be dissolved or suspended in a conventionally used culture mediumfor plant tissue culture, such as a Murashige-and-Skoog culture mediumor a conventionally used culture medium for hydroponics, such as aHoagland medium, at a concentration of active ingredients within a rangeof 0.001 ppm to 1000 ppm. In this case, in accordance with a usualmethod, saccharides as a carbon source, various phytohormones and thelike can be appropriately added.

When the inventive composition is applied to a solid where a plant growsor a plant itself, the application amount can vary according to the kindof plants to be treated, formulation form, application period,meteorological conditions and the like, but is usually within a range of0.1 g to 10000 g, preferably 1 to 1000 g, in terms of an activeingredient amount, per 10000 m². When the inventive composition isincorporated into the entire soil, the application amount is usuallywithin a range of 0.1 to 10 000 g, preferably 1 to 1000 g, in terms ofan active ingredient amount, per 10000 m².

An emulsifiable concentrate, a wettable powder, a flowable formulation,a microcapsule and the like are usually applied by spraying afterdilution with water. In this case, the concentration of the activeingredient is usually within a range of 0.1 ppm to 10000 ppm, preferably1 ppm to 1000 ppm, in the inventive composition. A dust formulation, agranule formulation and the like are usually used for application asthey are without dilution.

In application to seeds, the amount of the inventive composition per 100kg of seeds is usually 0.01 to 1000 g, preferably 0.1 to 100 g, in termsof the active ingredient amount of the present condensed ring compound.

The plants to which the inventive method can be applied include thefollowing plants.

Crops: corn, rice, wheat, barley, rye, oat, sorghum, cotton, soybean,peanut, buckwheat, sugar beet, oilseed rape, sunflower, sugar cane,tobacco, hop, etc.;

Vegetables: solanaceous vegetables (eggplant, tomato, potato, pepper,sweet pepper, etc.), cucurbitaceous vegetables (cucumber, pumpkin,zucchini, water melon, melon, oriental melon, etc.), cruciferousvegetables (Japanese radish, turnip, horseradish, kohlrabi, Chinesecabbage, cabbage, rape, leaf mustard, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.),asteraceous vegetables (burdock, crown daisy, artichoke, lettuce, etc.),liliaceous vegetables (green onion, onion, garlic, asparagus, etc.),apiaceous vegetables (carrot, parsley, celery, parsnip, etc.),chenopodiaceous vegetables (spinach, chard, etc.), Labiatae vegetables(Japanese basil, mint, basil, etc.), leguminous vegetables (pea, commonbean, azuki bean, broad bean, chikbean, etc.), strawberry, sweet potato,Japanese yam, taro, Amorphophallus konjac, ginger, okra, etc.;Fruits: pomaceous fruits (apple, pear, Japanese pear, Chinese quince,quince, etc.), stone fleshy fruits (peach, plum, nectarine, Prunus mume,cherry fruit, apricot, prune, etc.), citrus fruits (Citrus unshiu,orange, lemon, rime, grapefruit, etc.), nuts (chestnuts, walnuts,hazelnuts, almond, pistachio, cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, etc.),berries (blueberry, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, etc.), grape,persimmon, olive, Japanese plum, banana, coffee, date palm, coconuts,oil palm, etc.;Trees other than fruit trees: tea, mulberry, flowering trees(Rhododendron indicum, camellia, hydrangea, sasanqua, skimmia, cherry,tulip tree, crape myrtle, orange osmanthus, etc.), roadside trees (ashtree, birch, dogwood, eucalyptus, ginkgo biloba, lilac, maple, oak,poplar, redbud, liquidambar, sycamore, zelkova, Japanese arborvitae,fir, hemlock fir, juniper, pine, spruce, yew, elm, chestnut, etc.),Viburnum awabuki, Podocarpus macrophyllus, cedar, cypress, croton,Japanese spindle, Japanese photinia, etc.;Grasses: Zoysia grasses (Z. japonica, Z. pacifica, etc.), bermudagrasses(Bermuda grass, etc.), bent grasses (redtop, creeping bent, colonialbent, etc.), bluegrasses (Kentucky bluegrass, rough bluegrass, etc.),fescues (tall fescue, Chewing's fescue, creeping red fescue, etc.),ryegrasses (darnel, rye grass, etc.), orchard grass, timothy grass,etc.; andOther plants: ornamental flowers (rose, carnation, chrysanthemum,eustoma, gypsophila, gerbera, marigold, salvia, petunia, verbena, tulip,aster, gentian, lily, pansy, cyclamen, orchid, lily of the valley,lavender, stock, ornamental cabbage, primula, poinsettia, gladiolus,cattleya, daisy, cymbidium, begonia, etc.), biofuel plants (Jatropha,safflower, camellias, switchgrass, miscanthus, reed canarygrass, giantcane, kenaf, cassaya, willow, etc.), ornamental plants, etc.

Examples of the plants applicable to the present invention include,preferably, tea, apple, pear, grape, cherry fruit, peach, nectarine,persimmon, Japanese plum, plum, soybean, lettuce, cabbage, tomato,eggplant, cucumber, watermelon, melon, common bean, pea, azuki bean,grass, oilseed rape, strawberry, almond, corn, sorghum, broad bean,Chinese cabbage, potato, peanut, rice, wheat, taro, Amorphophalluskonjac, Japanese yam, Japanese radish, turnip, parsley, oriental melon,okra, ginger, lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime, blueberry, chestnut, hop,cotton, sugar beet and basil, more preferably, rice, wheat, corn,soybean, oilseed rape, cotton, sugar beet and the like.

The above-described “plants” may be plants obtained by introducingherbicide tolerance conferring genes, pest-selective toxin producinggenes, disease resistance conferring genes, or abiotic stress reducinggenes thereinto by genetic engineering techniques or hybridizationbreeding method, or stack varieties obtained by introducing a pluralityof these genes thereinto.

The inventive composition may be further applied to a seed or a plantsimultaneously with a pesticide, a fungicide, a biomaterial, and asafener against a certain herbicide, and the like. The usablebiomaterial includes, specifically, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus subtilis,Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai, Bacillus thuringiensis var.Kurstaki, Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebriosis, and the like

In the inventive method, the plant to which the inventive composition isapplied may be a plant which has been or is to be exposed to an abioticstress. Such “abiotic stress” may be quantified as “intensity of stress”according to the equation shown below, and its value may be 105 to 200,preferably 110 to 180, more preferably 120 to 160.“Intensity of stress”=100×“any one of the plant phenotypes in plants notbeing exposed to an abiotic stress factor”/“the one of the plantphenotypes in plants being exposed to the abiotic stressfactor”  Equation (I):

As used herein, an “abiotic stress” is defined as a stress that leads togrowth inhibition of a plant, when the plant is exposed to an abioticstress factor, such as temperature stress, i.e., high- orlow-temperature stress, water stress, i.e., drought stress or excessivemoisture stress, or salt stress, due to reduced physiological functionof the cells of the plant and deterioration of the physiological stateof the plant. The high-temperature stress refers to a stress that plantsexperience when they are exposed to a temperature exceeding the suitabletemperature for their growth or germination, specifically, thehigh-temperature stress may be caused under conditions in which theaverage growth temperature is 25° C. or higher, more harshly 30° C. orhigher, and even more harshly 35° C. or higher in the environment inwhich the plants are cultivated. The low-temperature stress refers to astress that plants experience when they are exposed to a temperaturelower than the suitable temperature for their growth or germination,specifically, the low-temperature stress may be caused under conditionsin which the average growth temperature is 15° C. or lower, more harshly10° C. or lower, and even more harshly 5° C. or lower in the environmentin which the plants are cultivated. The drought stress refers to astress that plants experience when they are exposed to a moistureenvironment that retards their growth by preventing water absorption dueto a reduction in the water content of the soil caused by a shortage ofrainfall or irrigation, specifically, the drought stress may be causedunder conditions in which the water content in the soil in which theplants are grown is 15% by weight or less, more harshly 10% by weight orless, and even more harshly 7.5% by weight or less, although thesevalues may vary depending on the type of the soil, or in which the pFvalue of the soil in which the plants are grown is 2.3 or more, moreharshly 2.7 or more, and even more harshly 3.0 or more, although thesevalues may vary depending on the type of the soil. The excessivemoisture stress refers to a stress that plants experience when they areexposed, to a moisture environment in which the water content in thesoil is excessively high, so that the growth of the plants is inhibited,specifically, the excessive moisture stress may be caused underconditions in which the water content in the soil in which the plantsare grown is 30% by weight or more, more harshly 40% by weight or more,and even more harshly 50% by weight or more, although these values mayvary depending on the type of the soil, or in which the pF value of thesoil in which the plants are grown is 1.7 or less, more harshly 1.0 orless, and even more harshly 0.3 or less, although these values may varydepending on the type of the soil. The pF value of soil can bedetermined according to the principle described in “Method for pF ValueMeasurement” on pages 61 and 62 of “Dojyo, Shokubutsu Eiyo, Kankyo Jiten(Encyclopedia of Soil, Plant Nutrition and Environment)” (TAIYOSHA Co.,Ltd., 1994, Matsuzaka et al.). The salt stress refers to a stress thatplants experience when they are exposed to an environment that retardstheir growth by preventing water absorption due to an increase in theosmotic pressure caused by accumulation of salts contained in the soilor hydroponic solution in which the plants are cultivated, specifically,the salt stress may be caused under conditions in which the osmoticpressure potential due to the salts contained in the soil or hydroponicsolution is 0.2 MPa (NaCl concentration of 2400 ppm) or higher, harshly0.25 MPa or higher, and more harshly 0.30 MPa or higher. The osmoticpressure in soil can be calculated according to Raoult's equation shownbelow, by diluting the soil with water and analyzing the supernatant forsalt concentration:π(atm)=cRT  Raoult's Equation:

R=0.082 (L-atm/mol-K)

T=Absolute temperature (K)

c=Ion molar concentration (mol/L)

1 atm=0.1 MPa

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be illustrated further in detail byproduction examples, formulation examples, application examples and testexamples below, but the present invention is not limited only to thefollowing examples. In the following examples, parts are by weightunless otherwise stated.

Production Example 1

A mixture of 5.0 g of 2-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde, 3.3 g ofmethyl thioglycolate, 4.0 g of potassium carbonate and 50 ml of DMF wasstirred at 60° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled down toroom temperature. To the reaction mixture was added water, and themixture was extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether three times. Thecombined organic layers were washed with water and saturated saline, anddried over magnesium sulfate, then, concentrated under reduced pressure.The residue was recrystallized from methanol, to obtain 6.3 g of methyl5-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate (present condensedring compound 1).

[Present Condensed Ring Compound 1]

¹H-NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 8.16 (s, 1H), 8.13 (s, 1H), 7.99 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H),7.67 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 3.98 (s, 3H)

Production Example 2

A mixture of 1.11 g of 2-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde, 739 mgof methyl thioglycolate, 1.3 g of potassium carbonate and 20 ml of DMFwas stirred at 140° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled downto room temperature. To the reaction mixture was added water, and themixture was extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether three times. Thecombined organic layers were washed with water and saturated saline, anddried over magnesium sulfate, then, concentrated under reduced pressure,to obtain 848 mg of methyl6-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate (present condensedring compound 2).

[Present Condensed Ring Compound 2]

¹H-NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 8.17 (s, 1H), 8.11 (s, 1H), 7.99 (m, 1H), 7.64 (m,1H), 3.98 (s, 3H)

Production Example 3

A mixture of 1.00 g of 2-fluoro-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde, 633 mgof methyl thioglycolate, 1.21 g of potassium carbonate and 15 ml of DMFwas stirred at 130° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled downto room temperature. To the reaction mixture was added water, and themixture was extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether three times. Thecombined organic layers were washed with water and saturated saline, anddried over magnesium sulfate, then, concentrated under reduced pressure,to obtain 480 mg of methyl4-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate (present condensedring compound 3).

[Present Condensed Ring Compound 3]

¹H-NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 8.27 (s, 1H), 8.06 (m, 1H), 7.72 (m, 1H), 7.54 (m,1H), 3.98 (s, 3H)

Production Example 4

A mixture of 600 mg of 2-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde, 398 mgof methyl thioglycolate, 694 mg of potassium carbonate and 10 ml of DMFwas stirred at 140° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled downto room temperature. To the reaction mixture was added water, and themixture was washed with tert-butyl methyl ether three times. To theaqueous layer was added hydrochloric acid, then, the mixture wasextracted with tert-butyl methyl ether three times. The combined organiclayers were washed with water and saturated saline, and dried overmagnesium sulfate, then, concentrated under reduced pressure. To theresidue was added water to cause deposition of a solid which was thencollected by filtration, and dried under reduced pressure. To theresultant solid were added 20 ml of methanol and 0.31 ml of oxalylchloride, and the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 2 hours. Thereaction mixture was cooled down to room temperature, then, concentratedunder reduced pressure. The residue was subjected to silica gel columnchromatography, to obtain 338 mg of methyl7-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate (present condensedring compound 4).

[Present Condensed Ring Compound 4]

¹H-NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 8.13 (s, 1H), 8.06 (m, 1H), 7.77 (m, 1H), 7.52 (m,1H), 3.97 (s, 3H)

Production Example 5

Ethyl 5-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate (presentcondensed ring compound 5) is obtained by a process according toProduction Example 1 excepting that ethyl thioglycolate is used insteadof methyl thioglycolate.

Production Example 6

Ethyl 6-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate (presentcondensed ring compound 6) is obtained by a process according toProduction Example 1 excepting that2-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde is used instead of2-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde and ethyl thioglycolate is usedinstead of methyl thioglycolate.

Production Example 7

Ethyl 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate (presentcondensed ring compound 7) is obtained by a process according toProduction Example 1 excepting that2-fluoro-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde is used instead of2-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde and ethyl thioglycolate is usedinstead of methyl thioglycolate.

Production Example 8

Ethyl 7-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate (presentcondensed ring compound 8) is obtained by a process according toProduction Example 1 excepting that2-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde is used instead of2-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzaldehyde and ethyl thioglycolate is usedinstead of methyl thioglycolate.

Next, formulation examples of the inventive composition will be shown.

Formulation Example 1

Twenty parts (20 parts) of any one of the present condensed ringcompounds 1 to 8 and 2 parts of imidacloprid are added into a mixtureprepared by mixing 4 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 2 parts of calciumlignin sulfonate, 20 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxide finepowder and 52 parts of diatomaceous earth, and these are mixed by wellstirring to obtain each 20% wettable powder.

Formulation Example 2

Twenty parts (20 parts) of any one of the present condensed ringcompounds 1 to 8 and 2 parts of clothianidin are added into a mixtureprepared by mixing 4 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 2 parts of calciumlignin sulfonate, 20 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxide finepowder and 52 parts of diatomaceous earth, and these are mixed by wellstirring to obtain each 20% wettable powder.

Formulation Example 3

Twenty parts (20 parts) of any one of the present condensed ringcompounds 1 to 8 and 2 parts of thiamethoxam are added into a mixtureprepared by mixing 4 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 2 parts of calciumlignin sulfonate, 20 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxide finepowder and 52 parts of diatomaceous earth, and these are mixed by wellstirring to obtain each 20% wettable powder.

Formulation Example 4

Twenty parts (20 parts) of any one of the present condensed ringcompounds 1 to 8 and 2 parts of abamectin are added into a mixtureprepared by mixing 4 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 2 parts of calciumlignin sulfonate, 20 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxide finepowder and 52 parts of diatomaceous earth, and these are mixed by wellstirring to obtain each 20% wettable powder.

Formulation Example 5

Twenty parts (20 parts) of any one of the present condensed ringcompounds 1 to 8 and 2 parts of chlorantraniliprole are added into amixture prepared by mixing 4 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 2 parts ofcalcium lignin sulfonate, 20 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxidefine powder and 52 parts of diatomaceous earth, and these are mixed bywell stirring to obtain each 20% wettable powder.

Formulation Example 6

Twenty parts (20 parts) of any one of the present condensed ringcompounds 1 to 8 and 2 parts of cyantraniliprole are added into amixture prepared by mixing 4 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 2 parts ofcalcium lignin sulfonate, 20 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxidefine powder and 52 parts of diatomaceous earth, and these are mixed bywell stirring to obtain each 20% wettable powder.

Formulation Example 7

Twenty parts (20 parts) of any one of the present condensed ringcompounds 1 to 8 and 2 parts of fipronil are added into a mixtureprepared by mixing 4 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 2 parts of calciumlignin sulfonate, 20 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxide finepowder and 52 parts of diatomaceous earth, and these are mixed by wellstirring to obtain each 20% wettable powder.

Formulation Example 8

Twenty parts (20 parts) of any one of the present condensed ringcompounds 1 to 8 and 2 parts of thiodicarb are added into a mixtureprepared by mixing 4 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate, 2 parts of calciumlignin sulfonate, 20 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxide finepowder and 52 parts of diatomaceous earth, and these are mixed by wellstirring to obtain each 20% wettable powder.

Formulation Example 9

To 2 parts of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1 to 8 and0.2 parts of imidacloprid are added 1 part of a synthetic hydratedsilicon oxide fine powder, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 30 partsof bentonite and 64.8 parts of kaolin clay, and these are mixed bysufficiently stirring. After that, to these mixtures is added anappropriate amount of water, the mixtures are further stirred,granulated by a granulator, and dried under ventilation to obtain each2% granule formulation.

Formulation Example 10

To 2 parts of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1 to 8 and0.2 parts of clothianidin are added 1 part of a synthetic hydratedsilicon oxide fine powder, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 30 partsof bentonite and 64.8 parts of kaolin clay, and these are mixed bysufficiently stirring. After that, to these mixtures is added anappropriate amount of water, the mixtures are further stirred,granulated by a granulator, and dried under ventilation to obtain each2% granule formulation.

Formulation Example 11

To 2 parts of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1 to 8 and0.2 parts of thiamethoxam are added 1 part of a synthetic hydratedsilicon oxide fine powder, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 30 partsof bentonite and 64.8 parts of kaolin clay, and these are mixed bysufficiently stirring. After that, to these mixtures is added anappropriate amount of water, the mixtures are further stirred,granulated by a granulator, and dried under ventilation to obtain each2% granule formulation.

Formulation Example 12

To 2 parts of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1 to 8 and0.2 parts of abamectin are added 1 part of a synthetic hydrated siliconoxide fine powder, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 30 parts ofbentonite and 64.8 parts of kaolin clay, and these are mixed bysufficiently stirring. After that, to these mixtures is added anappropriate amount of water, the mixtures are further stirred,granulated by a granulator, and dried under ventilation to obtain each2% granule formulation.

Formulation Example 13

To 2 parts of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1 to 8 and0.2 parts of chlorantraniliprole are added 1 part of a synthetichydrated silicon oxide fine powder, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate,30 parts of bentonite and 64.8 parts of kaolin clay, and these are mixedby sufficiently stirring. After that, to these mixtures is added anappropriate amount of water, the mixtures are further stirred,granulated by a granulator, and dried under ventilation to obtain each2% granule formulation.

Formulation Example 14

To 2 parts of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1 to 8 and0.2 parts of cyantraniliprole are added 1 part of a synthetic hydratedsilicon oxide fine powder, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 30 partsof bentonite and 64.8 parts of kaolin clay, and these are mixed bysufficiently stirring. After that, to these mixtures is added anappropriate amount of water, the mixtures are further stirred,granulated by a granulator, and dried under ventilation to obtain each2% granule formulation.

Formulation Example 15

To 2 parts of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1 to 8 and0.2 parts of fipronil are added 1 part of a synthetic hydrated siliconoxide fine powder, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 30 parts ofbentonite and 64.8 parts of kaolin clay, and these are mixed bysufficiently stirring. After that, to these mixtures is added anappropriate amount of water, the mixtures are further stirred,granulated by a granulator, and dried under ventilation to obtain each2% granule formulation.

Formulation Example 16

To 2 parts of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1 to 8 and0.2 parts of thiodicarb are added 1 part of a synthetic hydrated siliconoxide fine powder, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 30 parts ofbentonite and 64.8 parts of kaolin clay, and these are mixed bysufficiently stirring. After that, to these mixtures is added anappropriate amount of water, the mixtures are further stirred,granulated by a granulator, and dried under ventilation to obtain each2% granule formulation.

Formulation Example 17

One part (1 part) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1to 8 and 0.1 part of imidacloprid are dissolved in an appropriate amountof acetone, to this are added 5 parts of a synthetic hydrated siliconoxide fine powder, 0.3 parts of PAP and 93.6 parts of Fubasami clay,these are mixed by sufficiently stirring, and acetone is removed bydistillation to obtain each 1% dust formulation.

Formulation Example 18

One part (1 part) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1to 8 and 0.1 part of clothianidin are dissolved in an appropriate amountof acetone, to this are added 5 parts of a synthetic hydrated siliconoxide fine powder, 0.3 parts of PAP and 93.6 parts of Fubasami clay,these are mixed by sufficiently stirring, and acetone is removed bydistillation to obtain each 1% dust formulation.

Formulation Example 19

One part (1 part) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1to 8 and 0.1 part of thiamethoxam are dissolved in an appropriate amountof acetone, to this are added 5 parts of a synthetic hydrated siliconoxide fine powder, 0.3 parts of PAP and 93.6 parts of Fubasami clay,these are mixed by sufficiently stirring, and acetone is removed bydistillation to obtain each 1% dust formulation.

Formulation Example 20

One part (1 part) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1to 8 and 0.1 part of abamectin are dissolved in an appropriate amount ofacetone, to this are added 5 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxidefine powder, 0.3 parts of PAP and 93.6 parts of Fubasami clay, these aremixed by sufficiently stirring, and acetone is removed by distillationto obtain each 1% dust formulation.

Formulation Example 21

One part (1 part) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1to 8 and 0.1 part of chlorantraniliprole are dissolved in an appropriateamount of acetone, to this are added 5 parts of a synthetic hydratedsilicon oxide fine powder, 0.3 parts of PAP and 93.6 parts of Fubasamiclay, these are mixed by sufficiently stirring, and acetone is removedby distillation to obtain each 1% dust formulation.

Formulation Example 22

One part (1 part) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1to 8 and 0.1 part of cyantraniliprole are dissolved in an appropriateamount of acetone, to this are added 5 parts of a synthetic hydratedsilicon oxide fine powder, 0.3 parts of PAP and 93.6 parts of Fubasamiclay, these are mixed by sufficiently stirring, and acetone is removedby distillation to obtain each 1% dust formulation.

Formulation Example 23

One part (1 part) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds 1to 8 and 0.1 part of fipronil are dissolved in an appropriate amount ofacetone, to this are added 5 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxidefine powder, 0.3 parts of PAP and 93.6 parts of Fubasami clay, these aremixed by sufficiently stirring, and acetone is removed by distillationto obtain each 1% dust formulation.

Formulation Example 24

One part (1 part) of any one of the present compounds 1 to 8 and 0.1part of thiodicarb are dissolved in an appropriate amount of acetone, tothis are added 5 parts of a synthetic hydrated silicon oxide finepowder, 0.3 parts of PAP and 93.6 parts of Fubasami clay, these aremixed by sufficiently stirring, and acetone is removed by distillationto obtain each 1% dust formulation.

Formulation Example 25

Ten parts (10 parts) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and 1 part of imidacloprid; 17.5 parts of a polyoxyethylene alkylether sulfate ammonium salt; 17.5 parts of white carbon; and 55 parts ofwater are mixed and finely pulverized by a wet pulverization method toobtain each 10% flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 26

Ten parts (10 parts) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and 1 part of clothianidin; 17.5 parts of a polyoxyethylene alkylether sulfate ammonium salt; 17.5 parts of white carbon; and 54 parts ofwater are mixed and finely pulverized by a wet pulverization method toobtain each 10% flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 27

Ten parts (10 parts) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and 1 part of thiamethoxam; 17.5 parts of a polyoxyethylene alkylether sulfate ammonium salt; 17.5 parts of white carbon; and 54 parts ofwater are mixed and finely pulverized by a wet pulverization method toobtain each 10% flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 28

Ten parts (10 parts) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and 1 part of abamectin; 17.5 parts of a polyoxyethylene alkylether sulfate ammonium salt; 17.5 parts of white carbon; and 54 parts ofwater are mixed and finely pulverized by a wet pulverization method toobtain each 10% flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 29

Ten parts (10 parts) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and 1 part of chlorantraniliprole; 17.5 parts of apolyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt; 17.5 parts of whitecarbon; and 54 parts of water are mixed and finely pulverized by a wetpulverization method to obtain each 10% flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 30

Ten parts (10 parts) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and 1 part of cyantraniliprole; 17.5 parts of a polyoxyethylenealkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt; 17.5 parts of white carbon; and 54parts of water are mixed and finely pulverized by a wet pulverizationmethod to obtain each 10% flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 31

Ten parts (10 parts) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and 1 part of fipronil; 17.5 parts of a polyoxyethylene alkylether sulfate ammonium salt; 17.5 parts of white carbon; and 54 parts ofwater are mixed and finely pulverized by a wet pulverization method toobtain each 10% flowable formulation.

Formulation Example 32

Ten parts (10 parts) of any one of the present condensed ring compounds1 to 8 and 1 part of thiodicarb; 17.5 parts of a polyoxyethylene alkylether sulfate ammonium salt; 17.5 parts of white carbon; and 54 parts ofwater are mixed and finely pulverized by a wet pulverization method toobtain each 10% flowable formulation.

Next, examples of application of the inventive composition to plantseeds will be shown.

Application Example 1

Each flowable formulation produced in Formulation Example 25 toFormulation Example 32 is used for smear treatment in an amount of 200ml per 100 kg of corn dried seeds using a rotary seed treatment machine(seed dresser, manufactured by Hans-Ulrich Hege GmbH) so as to obtaineach treated seeds.

Application Example 2

Each flowable formulation produced in Formulation Example 25 toFormulation Example 32 is used for smear treatment in an amount of 50 mlper 10 kg of cotton dried seeds using a rotary seed treatment machine(seed dresser, manufactured by Hans-Ulrich Hege GmbH) so as to obtaineach treated seeds.

Application Example 3

Each flowable formulation produced in Formulation Example 25 toFormulation Example 32 is used for smear treatment in an amount of 10 mlper 10 kg of soybean dried seeds using a rotary seed treatment machine(seed dresser, manufactured by Hans-Ulrich Hege GmbH) so as to obtaineach treated seeds.

Application Example 4

Each flowable formulation produced in Formulation Example 25 toFormulation Example 32 is used for smear treatment in an amount of 100ml per 10 kg of sugar beet dried seeds using a rotary seed treatmentmachine (seed dresser, manufactured by Hans-Ulrich Hege GmbH) so as toobtain each treated seeds.

Application Example 5

Each flowable formulation produced in Formulation Example 25 toFormulation Example 32 is used for smear treatment in an amount of 50 mlper 10 kg of oilseed rape dried seeds using a rotary seed treatmentmachine (seed dresser, manufactured by Hans-Ulrich Hege GmbH) so as toobtain each treated seeds.

Application Example 6

Each flowable formulation produced in Formulation Example 25 toFormulation Example 32 is used for smear treatment in an amount of 40 mlper 10 kg of wheat dried seeds using a rotary seed treatment machine(seed dresser, manufactured by Hans-Ulrich Hege GmbH) so as to obtaineach treated seeds.

Application Example 7

Each flowable formulation produced in Formulation Example 25 toFormulation Example 32 is used for smear treatment in an amount of 200ml per 100 kg of rice dried seeds using a rotary seed treatment machine(seed dresser, manufactured by Hans-Ulrich Hege GmbH) so as to obtaineach treated seeds.

The following test examples show that the inventive composition promotesthe growth of a plant.

Test Example 1

Test of evaluation of growth promotion by Nicotiana benthamianahydroponics under low temperature stress

(Test Plant)

Nicotiana benthamiana

(Cultivation Condition and Compound Treatment Method)

Two-fold diluted Murashige-and-Skoog medium (a medium containing 2.3 gof a mixture of salts for Murashige-and-Skoog medium (manufactured byWako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), 200 mg of myoinositol(manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich), 2 mg of nicotinic acid (manufactured byWako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), 2 mg of pyridoxine hydrochloride(manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), 20 mg ofthiamine′ hydrochloride (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries,Ltd.), 20 g of sucrose (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries,Ltd.) and 1 g of MES (manufactured by DOJINDO LABORATORIES) in 1 L ofwater, adjusted to pH 5.8)(5 μL) was dispensed onto a 96-well plasticplate, seeds of Nicotiana benthamiana were sown, and cultivated at 22°C. overnight. Thereafter, 45 μL of the above-described medium(containing 0.1% DMSO) containing the present condensed ring compound 1and the present insecticidally active compound was further added to eachwell, to obtain 50 μL of a medium containing the present condensed ringcompound 1 and any of the present insecticidally active compound infinal concentrations shown in Table 2. It was cultivated for 7 daysunder conditions of an illuminance of 2000 lux, a temperature of 22° C.and a day length of 16 hours.

Separately, 45 μL of a medium prepared by adding DMSO at a volume ratioof 1/1000 to two-fold diluted Murashige-and-Skoog medium was added togive 50 μL of a medium, and seeds and seedlings of Nicotiana benthamianawere cultivated in the same manner, as a non-treated group.

(Cultivation Condition Under Low Temperature Stress)

The seedlings cultivated as described above were cultivated for 7 daysunder conditions of an illuminance of 2000 lux, a temperature of1.5±1.0° C. and a day length of 16 hours, to effect low temperaturestress treatment. Also the seedlings in the non-treated group weresubjected to low temperature stress treatment in the same manner.

(Evaluation Method)

Seedlings of Nicotiana benthamiana subjected to low temperature stresstreatment in a group treated with the inventive agrichemical compositionand a non-treated group were cultivated for 3 days under conditions ofan illuminance of 3000 lux, a temperature of 22° C. and a day length of16 hours, and the seedlings before low temperature stress treatment andthe seedlings 3 days after low temperature stress treatment werephotographed by Scanalyzer HTS (manufactured by LemnaTec), and the areaof green parts of leaves of seedlings was calculated. The relative leafarea was calculated according to the following calculation formula, thearea of green parts in the non-treated group after low temperaturestress treatment being 0% and the area of green parts directly beforelow temperature stress treatment being 100%. The results are shown inTable 2.

As a result of evaluation, in the group treated with the inventivecomposition, an apparent increase in the green leaf area was observed,thus, promotion of growth could be confirmed.(Relative leaf area)=100×{(area of green parts of leaves of seedlings incomposition-treated group 3 days after low temperature stresstreatment)−(area of green parts of leaves of seedlings in non-treatedgroup 3 days after low temperature stress treatment)}/(area of greenparts of leaves of seedlings in non-treated group directly before lowtemperature stress treatment)  <Calculation Formula>

TABLE 2 relative concentration leaf area Test compound (ppm) (%) presentcondensed ring 0 + 0.05 0 compound 1 + clothianidin present condensedring 3 + 0.05 47.1 compound 1 + clothianidin present condensed ring 0 +0.5 0 compound 1 + imidacloprid present condensed ring 3 + 0.5 43.7compound 1 + imidacloprid present condensed ring 0 + 5 0 compound 1 +thiamethoxam present condensed ring 3 + 5 46.5 compound 1 + thiamethoxampresent condensed ring 0 + 0.05 0 compound 1 + clorantraniliprolepresent condensed ring 3 + 0.05 47.7 compound 1 + clorantraniliprolepresent condensed ring 0 + 5 3.3 compound 1 + cyantraniliprole presentcondensed ring 3 + 5 52.1 compound 1 + cyantraniliprole presentcondensed ring 0 + 0.5 0 compound 1 + abamectin present condensed ring3 + 0.5 22.7 compound 1 + abamectin present condensed ring 0 + 5 0compound 1 + fipronil present condensed ring 3 + 5 32.8 compound 1 +fipronil present condensed ring 0 + 0.5 0 compound 1 + thiodicarbpresent condensed ring 3 + 0.5 22.2 compound 1 + thiodicarb

Test Example 2

Test of evaluation of promotion of root growth by rice hydroponics.

(Test Plant)

Rice (cultivar: Nipponbare)

(Cultivation Condition and Compound Treatment Method)

A 0.01% DMSO-containing 4-fold diluted Hoagland hydroponics liquid(Hoagland and Arnon, Calif. Agricultural Experiment Station 1950Circular 347 pp. 34) containing the present condensed ring compound at afinal concentration of 2 ppm and the present insecticidally activecompound at a final concentration of 0.02 to 2 ppm is prepared.

Rice seeds are immersed in a 1% sodium hypochlorite aqueous solution for10 minutes, then, immersed in a 70% ethanol solution, then, washed withdistilled water to disinfect the seed surface. The disinfected seeds areimmersed in the hydroponics liquid containing the test compound at theabove-described concentration, and incubated for 3 days at a temperatureof 28° C. under dark conditions to stimulate the germination of theseeds.

Then, 30 ml of a hydroponics liquid containing the test compound at theabove-described concentration is dispensed into a plastic tube (20 mm indiameter×113 mm in height) covered with a cardboard on the lateralsurface for blocking a light. A float made of a foamed polystyrene boardand a vinyl mesh is placed on the water surface of the hydroponicsliquid, and the rice seeds obtained after the stimulation of germinationare placed on the float floating on the water surface of the hydroponicsliquid. The seeds are cultivated for 3 days under the conditions of anilluminance of 4000 lux at the top of the tube, a temperature of 26° C.,a humidity of 50% and a day length of 16 hours.

<Evaluation Method>

The root length of the rice seedlings obtained after the cultivation ismeasured by using WinRHIZO system (manufactured by REGENT INSTRUMENTS),and the average value of the root length in the treated group iscalculated.

As a result of evaluation, the root length in the treated group whereinthe plants are treated with the inventive composition is expected to bemuch longer.

Test Example 3

Test of evaluation of promotion of growth under low temperature stressby treatment of corn seeds

<Test Plants>

Corn (cultivar: Kuromochi)

<Seed Treatment>

A blank slurry solution containing 10% (V/V) color coat red (BeckerUnderwood, Inc.), 10% (V/V) CF-Clear (Becker Underwood, Inc.) and 1.66%Maxim 4FS (Syngenta) is prepared.

A slurry solution is prepared by dissolving the present condensed ringcompound and the present insecticidally active compound in the blankslurry solution such that the final treatment amount of the presentcondensed ring compound is 5 g or 50 g and the final treatment amount ofthe present insecticidally active compound is 0.05 g to 500 g, per 100kg of corn seeds.

In a 50-ml centrifuge tube (manufactured by BD Japan) containing cornseeds, 0.35 ml of the slurry solution is added for each 14.4 g of thecorn seeds and stirred until the slurry solution is dried, therebycoating the corn seeds. In addition, the seeds are coated with the blankslurry solution in the same manner, for a non-treated group.<Cultivation Condition>

One of the treated corn seeds is sown in culture soil (AISAI) in eachpot (55 mm in diameter×58 mm in height) and cultivated for 10 days underthe conditions of a temperature of 27° C., an illuminance of 5,000 luxand a day length of 16 hours.

The grown seedlings are placed into an artificial weather control room(VHT-2-15P-NC2-S, manufactured by Nippon Medical & Chemical InstrumentsCo., Ltd) and cultivated for 4 days under the conditions of atemperature of 2.5±1° C., a day length of 16 hours and an illuminance of5000 lux.

Then, the grown plants are cultivated for 4 days under the conditions ofa temperature of 27° C., an illuminance of 5000 lux and a day length of16 hours.

<Evaluation Method>

After cultivation, the fresh weight of the aerial part of the plants ismeasured, and the average weight per individual is calculated.

As a result of evaluation, an increase in the fresh weight of the aerialpart is expected in the group treated with the inventive composition.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION

According to the inventive method, it becomes possible to provide anexcellent agrichemical composition promoting the growth of a plant, andthe like.

By use of the agrichemical composition of the present invention, growthof a plant can be promoted effectively.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An agrichemical composition comprising acompound represented by the formula (1):

wherein, at least one of R^(a), R^(b), R^(c) and R^(d) represents atrifluoromethyl group and others represent a hydrogen atom, and R^(e)represents a methyl group or an ethyl group, and at least oneinsecticidally active compound selected from the group consisting ofGroup (G): imidacloprid, clothianidin, abamectin, chlorantraniliprole,fipronil and thiodicarb, and wherein the content ratio of the compoundrepresented by the formula (1) to at least one insecticidally activecompound selected from the group consisting of Group (G) is 100:1 to1:100 by weight.
 2. The agrichemical composition according to claim 1,wherein the compound represented by the formula (1) is methyl5-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxylate.
 3. A method ofpromoting the growth of a plant, having a step of applying an effectiveamount of the agrichemical composition according to claim 1 to a soilwhere the plant grows or the plant itself.
 4. A method of promoting thegrowth of a plant, having a step of adhering an effective amount of theagrichemical composition according to claim 1 to a seed of the plant orimpregnating a seed of the plant with an effective amount of theagrichemical composition and a step of sowing the plant seed.
 5. A seedtreating agent comprising the agrichemical composition according toclaim
 1. 6. A plant seed impregnated with an effective amount of theagrichemical composition according to claim 1 or comprising an effectiveamount of the agrichemical composition adhered.
 7. The plant seedaccording to claim 6, wherein the kind of the plant seed is a seed ofcorn, cotton, soybean, sugar beet, rapeseed, wheat or rice.